Final answer:
True, soldiers on the losing side can be taken as prisoners of war. Exchanges were common early in wars like the Civil War but ceased as resources dwindled and policies changed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soldiers on the losing side who are captured may be taken as prisoners of war. The statement is True. During the early stages of a conflict, such as the Civil War, there might be an expectation for the exchange of captured soldiers, allowing them to return to their own side. Initially, this was the case during events like the surrender at Fort Sumter. However, as wars progress and conditions change, such as resource scarcity or shifts in government policy, the exchanges often ceased. This left the administrations with the challenge of maintaining the prisoners. During the Civil War, for instance, the Confederate South struggled with not only the location of the prisoners but also with the dire conditions and lack of resources to sustain them. On the other hand, the Northern Union's reasons for the neglect of the prisoners are less clear but no less severe.